Ok, so... 30 something family guy, looking for a bicycle that can "do" gravel adventure rides, local charity rides, (around town AND a half centry), and be able to tow a kiddie trailer... because of that, hes looking at disc brake ones... and of course that helps it looks a little more serious/macho. All around $1000, under if possible...

... and he wants to do a triatlon in the future. No. just kidding. I know the type, he's close ...

So the must haves are : *fat* 700c tires, disc, poss NOT alu... under 1000.

a Cannondale Quick cx... hmm I don't have prices available at home.. spending a bit more opens up some choices.. also working with a dealer.. I was looking at inexpensive cycle cross bikes.. and Specialized had some close out stuff.. limited sizes etc.. but that stuff can change daily.

glenn

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
Kahlil Gibran

We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

Fenlason wrote:a Cannondale Quick cx... hmm I don't have prices available at home.. spending a bit more opens up some choices.. also working with a dealer.. I was looking at inexpensive cycle cross bikes.. and Specialized had some close out stuff.. limited sizes etc.. but that stuff can change daily.

Yeah, his picky ... He's "leaning" towards the c-dale bad boy 9. I tried to get him to pony-up for at least the "5" (its the non-headshok lefty one & the lefty is only reason to get a c-dale. IMO.), but the 1,100 msrp scared/steered him to the "9" priced around 700$... either way, the Alu. frame will rattle him around a little, on those gravel rides...

Yeah it's funny what some people end up with, in comparison to what they say they want. Actually I like the Cross Check and am thinking about one for my wife. She has a "sportier" road bike.. but this would be a winter bike.. something I could fit studded tires to. I would like one myself.. but have an older Cannondale that still works. I really like the bar end shifters also. On a bike that I want to be real competitive with on the road I prefer STI.. but otherwise I love bar ends.. they are a lot cheaper than STI.. and are more durable. I have not seen the retro shift in person .. it does look interesting.

glenn

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
Kahlil Gibran

We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

Fenlason wrote:Yeah it's funny what some people end up with, in comparison to what they say they want. Actually I like the Cross Check and am thinking about one for my wife. She has a "sportier" road bike.. but this would be a winter bike.. something I could fit studded tires to. I would like one myself.. but have an older Cannondale that still works. I really like the bar end shifters also. On a bike that I want to be real competitive with on the road I prefer STI.. but otherwise I love bar ends.. they are a lot cheaper than STI.. and are more durable. I have not seen the retro shift in person .. it does look interesting.

I hate bar end shifters on drop bars ... I thought we where done changing body position, just to shift.( with down tube shifters ) I have seen bar end shifter on all sorts of *creative* places... including flatbars and bull horns, and even "mini" aero bars made from mtb bar end grips, positioned in the center by the stem... the moustache bar seems to make the most sense to me. ( lots o hand positions, same body position. ) Its kinda performance oriented on a budget ... same goes for retroshift.

Fenlason wrote:Yeah it's funny what some people end up with, in comparison to what they say they want. Actually I like the Cross Check and am thinking about one for my wife. She has a "sportier" road bike.. but this would be a winter bike.. something I could fit studded tires to. I would like one myself.. but have an older Cannondale that still works. I really like the bar end shifters also. On a bike that I want to be real competitive with on the road I prefer STI.. but otherwise I love bar ends.. they are a lot cheaper than STI.. and are more durable. I have not seen the retro shift in person .. it does look interesting.

I hate bar end shifters on drop bars ... I thought we where done changing body position, just to shift.( with down tube shifters ) I have seen bar end shifter on all sorts of *creative* places... including flatbars and bull horns, and even "mini" aero bars made from mtb bar end grips, positioned in the center by the stem... the moustache bar seems to make the most sense to me. ( lots o hand positions, same body position. ) Its kinda performance oriented on a budget ... same goes for retroshift.

Different strokes... I started with bar ends back in the early 70's my first real race bike came with them. I have had numerous bikes with them. I have many many many miles on them.. so I am quite used to them. My body does not move to shift them.. I just gently drop and arm.. if you were riding behind me a little to the side.. you would not even see me do it. With that said.. on my current road bikes.. that I ride more aggressively with.. I do prefer STI.. It is faster.. I love being able to shift while standing.. for example. For someone like your friend with a limited budget.. it does save money. The bike he bought might have cost a couple hundred more if it had STI.

In looking for a bike for my wife.. one of the reasons the cross check moved up the list.. is because it had bar end shifters.. In something that will be exposed to a lot of nasty weather and roads.. the bar ends are more durable.. and cheaper to replace if one does have problems. They are also much easier to shift with heavy gloves or mittens on. The STI shifters of today.. might be more durable.. I have had too much history with older ones that did not like dirt.. and I have replaced many on customers bikes.

The mustache bars.. I like the idea of.. but have never owned them.

glenn

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
Kahlil Gibran

We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

Is there anything about this bike that is as he said he wanted to start with? Disc brakes… That is a $2000.00 + bike.. and it is a full tilt mountain bike. It is a nice bike.. I like it.. and I apparently have a "thing" about orange.

I hope he likes it.

glenn

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
Kahlil Gibran

We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw